Utility sprayer unit

ABSTRACT

A corrosion resistant molded polyethylene tank for lawn and garden sprayable solutions is mounted to a manually propelled wheeled cart by a corrosion free attachment arrangement. Opposed sides of the tank are provided with relatively deep angled grooves or tracks engageable with and slidable on opposed, rearwardly extending and upwardly inclined frame components on the cart so that the tank can only be mounted from the rear of the cart with proper registration therewith assured. A removable stop between the frame components at the rear of the tank prevents tank displacement from the cart. A power spray mechanism is mounted to a support cover on the tank or, in a second embodiment, to a separate engine mount carried by the frame and seated against the stop.

United States Patent [191 Kommers et a1.

[ Mar. 19, 1974 UTILITY SPRAYER UNIT 1 Assam lellmr ll almanac!!! [22]Filed: July 26, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 382,674

Australia 239/172 Great Britain 239/146 Primary Examiner-Robert S. Ward,Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Morton S. Adler 5 7 ABSTRACT v A corrosionresistant molded polyethylene tank for lawn and garden sprayablesolutions is mounted to a manually propelled wheeled cart by a corrosionfree attachment arrangement. Opposed sides of the tank are provided withrelatively deep angled grooves or tracks engageable with and slidable onopposed, rearwardly extending and upwardly inclined frame components onthe cart so that the tank can only be mounted from the rear of the cartwith proper registration therewith assured. A removable stop between theframe components at the rear of the tank prevents tank displacement fromthe cart. A power spray mechanism is mounted to a support cover on thetank or, in a second embodiment, to a separate engine mount carried bythe frame and seated against the stop.

12 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENIEDHAR 19 1974 SHEEI 1 0F 3PAIENTEDMAMQ m4 $797743 sum 2 BF 3 1255 gig-.5

PATENTH] MRI 9 I974 sum 3 or 3 UTILITY SPRAYIER UNIT BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to improvements in lawn and garden cartmounted utility sprayers.

Sprayer units of this general type are well known and widely used andbeing traditionally made of metal, the various chemical products withwhich they are used result in corrosive action that is deleterious notonly to the tanksbut to the conventional types of metal fittings andsecuring means for attaching the same to the cart so that the usefullife of such tanks is materially shortened and the task of tankreplacement is often difficult.

With the above observations in mind, it one of the important objects ofthis invention to provide new and improved means for mounting a tankcomponent for a lawn and garden utility sprayer to a support structureand including the provision of a tank that is corrosion resistant.

A further important object herein is to provide a sprayer unit of theabove class in which the supporting unit is preferably in the form of awheeled cart and the means for mounting the tank thereto eliminates theuse of screws, bolts or other like fasteners subject to corrosiveaction.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide anangled slide engagement between external inclined tracks or grooves onthe tank and angularly disposed frame components on the tank support orcart whereby the tank can be mounted from only one direction for properregistration with the cart and in a secure manner which restricts thevertical and horizontal movement of the tank away from a properalignment.

A further object is to provide a sprayer unit as characterized which hasa cover adapted to support a power spray mechanism including a gasolineengine associate with an appropriate pump, hoses and spray nozzles andwhich preferably includes a special engine mount for supporting thepower mechanism, if desired, to isolate any vibrations of the power unitfrom the tank.

The foregoing objects and such further objects as may appear herein, orbe hereinafter pointed out, together with the advantages of thisinvention will be more fully discussed and developed in the moredetailed description of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of oneembodiment of this new and improved utility sprayer unit,

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the sprayer unit shown in FIG.1,

FIG. 3 is a side view thereof,

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the cart with the tank in place,

FIG. 6 is a rear view of this sprayer unit,

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of this sprayer unit with the tank lidor cover removed to more clearly illustrate the tank interior,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of this sprayer unitshowing the separate engine mount for carrying the engine and relatedparts, and

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view similar to FIG. 2 but showing thenew engine mount of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, oneembodiment of this new sprayer unit is designated generally by thenumeral 10 as best seen in FIG. l and, as seen in the exploded view ofFIG. 2, includes generally a support unit in the form of a wheeled cart112, a tank component 14 and an inverted U-shaped handle unit 16 ofwhich each will be referred to in more detail as this descriptionproceeds. Unit as shown is used with an engine and pump assembly 18having an attached hose associated handgun 20 (FIG. I) but no inventionis claimed in such components per se. The second embodiment of thissprayer designated 10 is shown in the exploded view of FIG. 9 toillustrate the use of the engine mount 21.

The support unit here shown preferably in the form of cart 112 includesa flat support platform or base 22 which is substantially squarealthough this is not required and is suitably supported at opposedflanged sides 24 and 26 by the tired wheels 28. However, it is pointedout that the wheels 28 are provided for purposes of mobility and if notdesired or employed, are not required for purposes of this invention.

For purposes of description, platform 22 defines a front edge 30 and arear edge 32 and is provided with a hole or opening 34 as shown.Parallel rigid elongated frame members preferably in the form of tubesor pipes 36 and 38 are angularly secured relative to the plane ofplatform 22 to sides 24 and 26 thereof and for this purpose are securedto sides 24 and 26 near the front edge 30 of platform 22 so as to extendupwardly and rearwardly therefrom. For convenience when support 12 is inthe form of a wheeled cart as shown, we have incorporated frames 36 and38 into an integral U-shaped frame unit by extending frames 36 and 38downwardly and forwardly from their point of attachment to platform 22to the integral cross member 40 defining the closed end of such U-shapedframe unit which serves as a ground engaging standard or rest when cart12 is stationary. preferably, we have made platform 22 and frames 36 and38 of metal so that such frames are secured to the platform sides 24 and26 by a weld 42. A pair of spaced keepers 44 are mounted on frame 38 forsupporting the handgun 20 when not in use as will be apparent.

The tank component 14 includes a corrosion resistant molded polyethylenetank or container 46 which is a marked departure from the conventionallyused metal tanks in articles of this type and has a capacity of 12 /2gallons although this, of course, is a matter of choice. In overallappearance, tank 416 is generally square defining a flat top surface 48and a flat bottom 50 (FIG. 7) with a depending molded sump 52 in bottom50. As best seen in FIG. 6, the outer perimeter 54 of the body of tank46 intermediate top 48 and bottom 50 is disposed outwardly from theperiphery of top 48 and bottom 50 whereby the tank walls on all sidesextend in their upper portions from top 48 outwardly and downwardly toperimeter 541 and in their lower portions, are sloped or angled fromperimeter 54 downwardly and inwardly to bottom 50. Opposed externalsides of tank 46 represented by the numerals 56 and 58, are providedwith relatively deep parallel grooves or tracks 60 angularly disposed soas to extend from a point at bottom 50 substantially midway between thefront 62 and rear 64 of tank 46 upwardly and rearwardly to top 48 at therear 64 where a relatively shallow groove or track 66 (FIG. 2) extendsalong the rear edge 64 of top 48 to communicate with grooves or tracks60.

The top 48 is provided with a relatively large opening 68 bordered bythe lip or shoulder 70 to which there is mounted a suitable lid or cover72 secured to shoulder 70 by a lockable ring fastener 74 in a well knownmanner. Cover 72 is designed to support the engine and pump assembly 18and for this purpose is provided with appropriate holes 76 for mountingattachments. A small opening and closure 78 is conveniently formed incover 72 for obvious reasons.

It will be noted that the walls defining the grooves 60 (FIG. 2.) areslightly converged so that the width of the closed end thereof withinthe interior of tank 46 as seen at 80 in FIG. 7 is slightly smaller thanthe width at its open end and the distance within tank 46 between therespective closed end portions 80 of grooves 60 corresponds with thedistance between frames 36 and 38. In mounting tank 46 to the support orcart 12, such tank, with its front edge 62 oriented in the samedirection as the front edge 30 of platform 22, is introduced to frames36 and 38 from the rear of platform 22 whereby the tops of frames 36 and38 are first positioned in the grooves 60 adjacent bottom 50 so thattank 46 can be slid angularly forwardly and downwardly on frames 36 and38 until tank bottom 50 is seated on platform 22. During this movement,sump 52 will come into registration with opening 34 and extendtherethrough and for this purpose, it will be noted (FIG. that opening34 is oversized relative to the diameter of sump 52 to provide for easyentry of the sump as it moves at an angle towards opening 34. Arelatively snug friction fit is provided by the closed end portions 80of grooves 60 on frames 36 and 38 so that tank 46 is firmly positionedon platform 22 and by virtue of the substantial embracement of frames 36and 38 by grooves or tracks 60, any vertical or horizontal movement oftank 46 relative to platform 22 likely to cause a misalignment for aproper registration is prevented while the tank is being mounted asdescribed.

With tank 46 mounted to the support unit 12 as described, the upper endsof frames 36 and 38 will be at substantially the plane of top 48 totelescopically receive the open ends of the inverted U-shaped handleunit 16, such ends being provided with holes 82 for registration withholes 84 at the upper ends of frames 36 and 38. The registration pointfor holes 82 and 84 is aligned with groove 66 in which there is seatedor nested the stop or lock rod 86 that extends to and between the frames36 and 38 and the ends of rod 86 are provided with an apertured threadedplug 88 to receive the bolts 90 journalled through holes 82 and 84 toeffectively secure handle unit 16 and rod 86 in place as shown. Rod 86effectively prevents any movement of tank 46 relative to platform 22 andthus such tank is securely mounted without the use of any auxiliary orattached fastening devices subject to corrosive action and can bequickly and easily detached from platform 22 by the removal of rod 86.

The engine assembly 18 is mounted as shown and as previously referred toand may include pump apparatus (not shown) extending into sump 52 toassure complete utilization of any spray liquid used. The handgun 20 isconveniently stored in keepers 44 as shown.

With reference now to FIGS. 8 and 9, we have shown a second embodimentof this sprayer designed as 10' which in all material respects is thesame as unit 10 described above except for the addition of the enginemount 21. Accordingly, like parts on unit 10' as related to unit 10 willbe given like numerals and corresponding parts having some slightmodification because of mount 21 will be identified and described anddesignated by corresponding numerals primed.

Mount 21 comprises a sturdy flat steel platform 92 defining a front 94and rear 96 and having gusset shaped sides 98 with their widest end atrear 96 to which elongated tubular inclined sleeves 100 are suitablysecured such as by welding 102 so as to extend downwardly and forwardly.Sleeves 100 are slidably mounted over the upper ends of frame members 36and 38' which differ from members 36 and 38 only in that they areapproximately 4% inches longer to accommodate and support such sleeves100 whereby the lower ends of the sleeves 100 abut the stop rod 86. Inthis position, the angle of sleeves 100 relative to platform 92 is suchthat platform 92 is disposed on a horizontal plane in close spacedrelationship above tank cover 72 so that a suitable engine, pump andsprayer mechanism 18' can be bolted thereto through holes 104. Mechanism18' is similar in purpose to member 18 but illustrates a different styleof engine assembly to indicate that different engine and pump styles maybe suitably employed as desired. The mounting of tank 14 to cart 12 andthe handle 16 to frame members 36 and 38' on sprayer 10' is the same aspreviously described for unit 10. Cover 72' does not require the holes76 (FIG. 2) used for mounting the engine 18 but is provided withappropriate holes 76' for such hose components as may be on engineassembly 18 and on unit 10, the individual keepers 44 shown on framemember 38 of unit 10 are replaced by a single elongated keeper 44 onframe member 38' centrally of its length.

The operation of engine assemblies 18 or 18 will develop certaininherent vibrations as is well known and thus in those cases where tank14 may be made of plastic materials, it is recommended that unit 10'with the separate engine mount 21 be used for the reason that such mount21 is supported directly by frame members 36' and 38' so that anyvibrations from engine 18' are transmitted to mount 21 and members 36'and 38' whereby tank 14 is isolated therefrom and not subject to anypossible damaging effects that could emanate therefrom. However, it isnot intended that the means described for mounting the tank 14 to thecart 12 be limited to plastic tanks since such embodiment as designated10 may be employed to advantage with tanks of other materials includingmetal. Accordingly, in view of all of the foregoing, it is thought afull understanding of the construction and operation of this inventionwill be had and the advantages thereof appreciated.

We claim:

1. A utility sprayer unit, comprising:

a support base having opposed sides and a front and rear,

opposed spaced and parallel upstanding frame members securedrespectively to said opposed sides,

a tank having opposed sides each provided with a groove on the exteriorsurface thereof with said grooves being in parallel relationship to eachother,

the distance between the recessed end portions of said groovescorresponding substantially with the distance between said framemembers,

said tank being disposed on said base intermediate said frame memberswith said respective frame members nested in a respective groove tofrictionally engage said tank and hold it securely on said base, and

said tank being adapted for cooperative association with a poweroperated pump and spraying mechanism.

2. A sprayer unit as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said tank includes a top and the upstanding ends of said frame membersbeing substantially planar therewith when said tank is disposed on saidbase, and

a stop member releasably secured to and between said upstanding ends andin engagement with said tank to prevent any movement of said tankrelative to said frame members. 3. A sprayer unit as defined in claim 1wherein: said tank includes a top and a back connected thereto,

the upstanding ends of said frame members being substantially planarwith the juncture of said top and back, and

a stop member secured to and between the upstanding ends of said framemembers and in engagement with said tank to prevent any tank movementrelative to said frame members and said base when said tank ispositioned on said base.

4. A sprayer unit as defined in claim 3 including:

said tank being provided with a separate groove at the juncture of saidtop and back with said separate groove extending to and between saidopposed sides, and

said stop member being nested in said separate groove and releasablysecured to said frame members.

5. A sprayer unit as defined in claim 1 including the walls definingsaid grooves being converged from the external surface of said tanktowards their innermost depth to facilitate frictional engagement withsaid frame members.

6. A sprayer unit as defined in claim 1 including:

a ground engaging wheel assembly carried by said base, and

a handle unit operatively secured to the upstanding ends of said framemembers.

7. A sprayer unit as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said tank includes a flat top surface provided with a relatively largeopening,

a rigid cover removably arranged relative to said opening, and

said cover adapted to support any selected engine powered sprayassembly.

8. A sprayer unit as defined in claim 1 including:

a platform designed to support any selected engine powered sprayingassembly,

means mounting said platform to said frame members so that said platformis disposed horizontally in close spaced relationship above said tank,means on said tank affording operably connection with any selectedengine powered spray assembly on said platform with the contents of saidtank, and

said platform serving to isolate said tank from any vibrations emanatingfrom the operation of an engine powered spray assembly mounted on saidplatform.

9. A sprayer unit as defined in claim 1' wherein:

said tank includes a top and a back connected thereto,

the upstanding ends of said frame members being substantially planarwith the juncture of said top and back,

a stop member secured to and between the upstanding ends of said framemembers and in engagement with said tank to prevent any tank movementrelative to said frame members and said base when said tank ispositioned on said base,

a platform for supporting any selected engine powered spray assembly,

means for removably mounting said platform to said frame members andengageable with said stop member whereby said platform is disposedhorizontally in close spaced relationship above said tank,

said stop member serving to limit the movement of said platform relativeto said frame members towards said tank, and

said platform serving to isolate said tank from any vibrations emanatingfrom the operation of an engine powered spray assembly mounted on saidplatform.

10. A sprayer unit as defined in claim 1 including:

said frame members being secured to said opposed sides of said base atrespective points near the front thereof and extending angularlytherefrom upwardly and rearwardly,

said grooves on said tank being angularly inclined correspondingly tothe angle of inclination of said frame members,

the nesting of said frame members in said grooves effected by theintroduction of said grooves into an angled slidable engagement withsaid frame members only from a position at the rear of said base, and

said grooves being relatively deep to substantially embrace said framemembers whereby the cooperative engagement between said frame membersand said grooves in mounting said tank to said base prevents anyvertical or horizontal misalignment of said tank relative to its properpositioning on said base.

11. A sprayer unit as defined in claim it) including:

a platform for supporting any selected engine powered spray assembly,

means for slidably mounting said platform to said frame members,

a stop member mounted to said frame members and engageable by saidplatform whereby said platform is disposed horizontally in close spacedrelationship above said tank,

said stop member serving to limit the movement of said platform relativeto said frame members towards said tank, and

when said platform has an engine powered spray assembly mounted thereto,the weight thereof serves to restrict the movement of said platformrelative to said frame members away from said tank.

12. A sprayer unit as defined in claim 10 including:

said opening being oversized relative to said sump to provide foradequate entry clearance of said sump into said opening during itsangled direction of movement as said tank is slid relative to said framemembers.

1. A utility sprayer unit, comprising: a support base having opposedsides and a front and rear, opposed spaced and parallel upstanding framemembers secured respectively to said opposed sides, a tank havingopposed sides each provided with a groove on the exterior surfacethereof with said grooves being in parallel relationship to each other,the distance between the recessed end portions of said groovescorresponding substantially with the distance between said framemembers, said tank being disposed on said base intermediate said framemembers with said respective frame members nested in a respective grooveto frictionally engage said tank and hold it securely on said base, andsaid tank being adapted for cooperative association with a poweroperated pump and spraying mechanism.
 2. A sprayer unit as defined inclaim 1 wherein: said tank includes a top and the upstanding ends ofsaid frame members being substantially planar therewith when said tankis disposed on said base, and a stop member releasably secured to andbetween said upstanding ends and in engagement with said tank to preventany movement of said tank relative to said frame members.
 3. A sprayerunit as defined in claim 1 wherein: said tank includes a top and a backconnected thereto, the upstanding ends of said frame members beingsubstantially planar with the juncture of said top and back, and a stopmember secured to and between the upstanding ends of said frame membersand in engagement with said tank to prevent any tank movement relativeto said fraMe members and said base when said tank is positioned on saidbase.
 4. A sprayer unit as defined in claim 3 including: said tank beingprovided with a separate groove at the juncture of said top and backwith said separate groove extending to and between said opposed sides,and said stop member being nested in said separate groove and releasablysecured to said frame members.
 5. A sprayer unit as defined in claim 1including the walls defining said grooves being converged from theexternal surface of said tank towards their innermost depth tofacilitate frictional engagement with said frame members.
 6. A sprayerunit as defined in claim 1 including: a ground engaging wheel assemblycarried by said base, and a handle unit operatively secured to theupstanding ends of said frame members.
 7. A sprayer unit as defined inclaim 1 wherein: said tank includes a flat top surface provided with arelatively large opening, a rigid cover removably arranged relative tosaid opening, and said cover adapted to support any selected enginepowered spray assembly.
 8. A sprayer unit as defined in claim 1including: a platform designed to support any selected engine poweredspraying assembly, means mounting said platform to said frame members sothat said platform is disposed horizontally in close spaced relationshipabove said tank, means on said tank affording operably connection withany selected engine powered spray assembly on said platform with thecontents of said tank, and said platform serving to isolate said tankfrom any vibrations emanating from the operation of an engine poweredspray assembly mounted on said platform.
 9. A sprayer unit as defined inclaim 1 wherein: said tank includes a top and a back connected thereto,the upstanding ends of said frame members being substantially planarwith the juncture of said top and back, a stop member secured to andbetween the upstanding ends of said frame members and in engagement withsaid tank to prevent any tank movement relative to said frame membersand said base when said tank is positioned on said base, a platform forsupporting any selected engine powered spray assembly, means forremovably mounting said platform to said frame members and engageablewith said stop member whereby said platform is disposed horizontally inclose spaced relationship above said tank, said stop member serving tolimit the movement of said platform relative to said frame memberstowards said tank, and said platform serving to isolate said tank fromany vibrations emanating from the operation of an engine powered sprayassembly mounted on said platform.
 10. A sprayer unit as defined inclaim 1 including: said frame members being secured to said opposedsides of said base at respective points near the front thereof andextending angularly therefrom upwardly and rearwardly, said grooves onsaid tank being angularly inclined correspondingly to the angle ofinclination of said frame members, the nesting of said frame members insaid grooves effected by the introduction of said grooves into an angledslidable engagement with said frame members only from a position at therear of said base, and said grooves being relatively deep tosubstantially embrace said frame members whereby the cooperativeengagement between said frame members and said grooves in mounting saidtank to said base prevents any vertical or horizontal misalignment ofsaid tank relative to its proper positioning on said base.
 11. A sprayerunit as defined in claim 10 including: a platform for supporting anyselected engine powered spray assembly, means for slidably mounting saidplatform to said frame members, a stop member mounted to said framemembers and engageable by said platform whereby said platform isdisposed horizontally in close spaced relationship above said tank, saidstop member serving to limit the movement of said platforM relative tosaid frame members towards said tank, and when said platform has anengine powered spray assembly mounted thereto, the weight thereof servesto restrict the movement of said platform relative to said frame membersaway from said tank.
 12. A sprayer unit as defined in claim 10including: said base being provided with an opening, said tank includinga bottom provided with a depending sump extended through said openingwhen said tank is disposed on said base, and said opening beingoversized relative to said sump to provide for adequate entry clearanceof said sump into said opening during its angled direction of movementas said tank is slid relative to said frame members.